Robert Underwood Johnson, Clarence Clough Buell, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Volume 2.

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The opposing forces in the operations at New Orleans, La.

The composition, losses, and strength of each force as here stated give the gist of all the data obtainable in the Official Records. K stands for killed; w for wounded; m for mortally wounded; m for captured or missing; c for captured.

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The Union forces.

Union fleet: West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Flag-Officer D. G. Farragut.

first division of gun-boats, Captain Theodorus Bailey.

Second division of gun-boats, Fleet-Captain Henry H. Bell.

Union casualties.	prior to the action of Apr. 24th.	during the action of Apr. 24th.	Total Casualties.
Killed.	Wounded.	Total.	Killed.	Wounded.	Total.
Hartford		5	5	3	10	13	18
Brooklyn				9	26	35	35
Richmond				2	4	6	6
Pensacola				4	33	37	37
Mississippi				2	6	8	8
Oneida		15	15		3	3	18
Varuna				3	9	12	12
Iroquois		3	3	6	22	28	31
Cayuga					6	6	6
Itasca					4	4	4
Katahdin	1		1				1
Kineo				1	8	9	9
Pinola				3	7	10	10
Sciota					2	2	2
Winona				3	5	8	8
Portsmouth					1	1	1
Harriet Lane				1	1	2	2
Norfolk Packet		1	1				1
Arletta	1		1				1
Total	2	24	26	37	147	184	210

first-class screw sloops: Flag-ship Hartford, Commander Richard Wainwright; Brooklyn, Captain Thomas T. Craven; Richmond, Commander James Alden; Pensacola, Captain Henry W. Morris. Side-wheel steamer: Mississippi, Commander Melancton Smith. Second-class screw sloops: Oneida, Commander S. Phillips Lee; Varuna, Commander Charles S. Boggs; Iroquois, Commander John De Camp. Screw gun-boats: Cayuga, Lieutenant N. B. Harrison; Itasca, Lieutenant C. H. B. Caldwell; Katahdin, Lieutenant George H. Preble; Kennebec, Lieutenant John H. Russell; Kineo, Lieutenant George M. Ransom; Pinola, Lieutenant Pierce Crosby; Sciota, Lieutenant Edward Donaldson; Winona, Lieutenant Edward T. Nichols; Wissahickon, Lieutenant A. N. Smith. Sailing sloop (stationed with mortar division): Portsmouth, Commander Samuel Swartwout.

mortar division: Commander David D. Porter. Flag-ship : Harriet Lane, Lieutenant J . M. Wainwright. Gun-boat: Owasco, Lieutenant John Guest. Side-wheel steamers (ferry-boats): Clifton, Lieutenant C. H. Baldwin; John P. Jackson, Lieutenant Selim E. Woodworth; Westfield, Commander W. B. Renshaw. Side-wheel steamer (double-ender): Miami, Lieutenant A. D. Harrell. First division of schooners, Lieutenant Watson Smith, commanding: Norfolk Packet, Lieutenant Watson Smith; Oliver H. Lee, Acting Master Washington Godfrey; Para, Acting Master Edward G. Furber; C. P. Williams, Acting Master Amos R. Langthorne; Arletta, [74]

Armaments of Union fleet.

vessels.	13-in. mortar.	11-in. S. B.	10-in. S. B.	9-in. S. B.	8-in. S. B.	32-pdr. S. B.	100-pdr. R.	80-pdr. R.	50-pdr. R.	30-pdr. R.	20-pdr. R.	6-in. Sawyer Rifte, 87 cwt.	Total guns.	Howitzers.	Total including Howitzers.
24-pdr.	12-pdr.	Total.
Hartford				241							2		26		2	2	28
Brooklyn				22				1		1			24		2	2	26
Richmond				20				1		1			22				22
Pensacola		1		20			1	1					23		2	2	25
Mississippi			1		192						1		21		1	1	22
Oneida		2				4				3			9		1	1	10
Varuna					8					2			10				10
Iroquois		2		23		4			1			14	10		1	1	11
Cayuga		1								1			2	2		2	4
Itasca			1			2					1		4				4
Katahdin		1									1		2	2		2	4
Kennebec		1									1		2	2		2	4
Kineo		1									1		2	2		2	4
Pinola		1									2		3	2		2	5
Sciota		1									1		2	35		3	5
Winona		1									1		2	2		2	4
Wissahickon		1									1		2	2		2	4
Total		13	2	88	27	10	1	3	1	8	12	1	166	17	9	26	192

mortar division.

vessels.	13-in. mortar.	11-in. S. B.	10-in. S. B.	9-in. S. B.	8-in. S. B.	32-pdr. S. B.	100-pdr. R.	80-pdr. R.	50-pdr. R.	30-pdr. R.	20-pdr. R.	6-in. Sawyer Rifte,	Total guns.	Howitzers.	Total including Howitzers.
24-pdr.	12-pdr.	Total.
Harriet Lane				3									3	2		2	5
Owasco		1									1		2	2		2	4
Clifton				2		4				1			7				7
John P. Jackson				1		4						1	6				6
Westfield				1	4		1						6				6
Miami				26				1					3	4		4	7
Portsmouth					16						1		17		1	1	18
Nineteen Mortar Schooners	19					38							57				57
Total mortar division	19	1		9	20	46	1	1		1	2	1	101	8	1	9	110
Total ships and gun-boats		13	2	88	27	10	1	3	1	8	12	1	166	17	9	26	192
Total fleet	19	14	2	97	47	56	2	4	1	9	14	2	267	25	10	35	302

The Colorado supplied altogether:

2 9-inch to the Hartford.

2 9-inch to the Iroquois.

1 9-inch to the Miami.

14 8-inch to the Mississippi.

1 24-pounder howitzer to the Sciota.

20 guns.

Acting Master Thomas E. Smith; William Bacon, Acting Master William P. Rogers; Sophronia, Acting Master Lyman Bartholomew. Second division of schooners, Lieutenant W. W. Queen, commanding: T. A. Ward, Lieutenant W. W. Queen; Maria J. Carlton, Acting Master Charles E. Jack; Matthew Vassar, Acting Master Hugh H. Savage; George Mangham, Acting Master John Collins; Orvetta, Acting Master Francis E. Blanchard; Sidney C. Jones, Acting Master J. D. Graham. Third division of schooners, Lieutenant K. Randolph Breese, commanding: John Griffith, Acting Master Henry Brown; Sarah Bruen, Acting Master Abraham Christian; Racer, Acting Master Alvin Phinney; Sea Foam, Acting Master Henry E. Williams; Henry James, Acting Master Lewis W. Pennington; Dan Smith, Acting Master George W. Brown.

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Union Army.⁷

Major-General Benjamin F. Butler.

Brigade commanders, Brig.-Gen'ls John W. Phelps and Thomas Williams.

Infantry: 9th Conn., Col. Thomas W. Cahill; 12th Conn., Col. Henry C. Deming; 21st Ind., Col. James W. McMillan; 26th Mass., Col. Edward F. Jones; 30th Mass., Col. N. A. M. Dudley; 31st Mass., Col. Oliver P. Gooding; 6th Mich., Col. Frederick W. Curtenius; 4th Wis., Col. Halbert E. Paine. Cavalry: 2d Mass. Battalion (2 cos.), Capts. S. Tyler Read and Henry A. Durivage. Artillery: 4th Mass. Battery, Capt. Charles H. Manning; 6th Mass. Battery, Capt. Charles Everett; 2d Vt. Battery, Capt. P. E. Holcomb.

The strength of this command is reported at 6000 ( “Official Records,” Vol. VI., p. 708).

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[75]

The Confederate forces.

Force afloat--Commander John K. Mitchell.

name.	7-in. R.	9-in. S. B.	8-in. S. B.	32-pdr. R.	32-pdr. S. B.	24-pdr.	9-pdr.	Howitzers.	Total including Howitzers.
naval vessels.
Louisiana, Comr. Charles F. McIntosh (m w)	2	3	4	7					16
McRae, Lieut, Thos. B. Huger (m w)		1			6		18		8
Jackson (at Quarantine), Lieut. F. B. Renshaw					2				2
Manassas, Lieut. A. F. Warley					19				1
Launch No. 3, Acting Master Telford								1	1
Launch No. 6, Acting Master Fairbanks								1	1
Louisiana State Gun-boats
Governor Moore, Lieut. Beverley Kennon				2					2
General Quitman, Capt. Alexander Grant					2				2
River Defense Boats.
Warrior, Capt. John A. Stephenson					1				1
Stonewall Jackson, Capt. Geo. W. Philips						1			1
Defiance, Capt. Joseph D. McCoy					1				1
Resolute, Capt. Isaac Hooper				1	1				2
General Lovell, Capt. Burdett Paris					1				1
R. J. Breckinridge, Capt. James Smith.						1			1
Total	2	4	4	10	15	2	1	2	40

Unarmed tugs. Landis, Captain Davis, and W. Burton, Captain Hammond (tenders to the Louisiana); Phoenix, Captain James Brown (tender to the Manassas); Mosher, Captain Sherman, and Belle Algerine, Captain Jackson (k); Music, Captain McClellan (tender to the forts); Star, Captain Laplace (telegraph boat). The last four were chartered by the army.

Grand total of Confederate guns, 166.

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Confederate Army.

Major-General Mansfield Lovell.

Coast defenses, Brig.-Gen. Johnson K. Duncan.

forts Jackson and St. Philip, Lieut.-Col. Edward Higgins.

Fort Jackson: La. Scouts and Sharp-shooters, Capt. W. G. Mullen; St. Mary's (La.) Cannoneers, Capt. F. O. Cornay; other company and battery commanders, Capt. James Ryan (detached on the Louisiana), Capt. J. B. Anderson (w), Lieut. William M. Bridges, Capt. W. B. Robertson, Capt. R. J. Bruce, Lieut. Eugene W. Baylor, Lieut. A. N. Ogden, Lieut. Beverly C. Kennedy, Lieut. William T. Mumford, Lieut. J. W. Gaines, Capt. S. Jones, Capt. F. Peter, and Lieut. Thomas K. Pierson (k).

Fort St. Philip, Capt. M. T. Squires: La. Scouts and Sharp-shooters, Capt. Armand Lartigue; other company and battery commanders, Capt. R . C. Bond, Capt. J. H. Lamon, Lieut. Lewis B. Taylor, Lieut. J. K. Dixon (detached on the Louisiana), Lieut. A. J. Quigley, Capt. Charles Assenheimer, and Capt. Massicott. Quarantine: Chalmette (La.) Regt., Col. Ignatius Szymanski.

Batteries of the forts.

Fort Jackson. Barbette: 2 10-inch Columbiads; 3 8-inch Columbiads; 1 7-inch rifle; 2 8-inch mortars; 6 42-pounders; 15 32-pounders, of which 2 were dismounted in the action; 11 24-pounders, of which 2 were dismounted in the action; 1 8-inch howitzer, dismounted; 1 7/8-inch howitzer. Casemates: 10 24-pounder howitzers (flank); 14 24-pounder guns. Parade: 1 6-pounder; 1 12-pounder howitzer. Water-battery: 1 10-inch Columbiad; 2 8-inch Columbiads; 1 10-inch sea-coast mortar; 2 32-pounders, rifled. Total, 74 guns.

Fort St. Philip. On face 8: 4 8-inch Columbiads. On salient: 1 24-pounder. On covered way: 1 8-inch mortar; 1 10-inch siege mortar; 1 13-inch sea-coast mortar (disabled: bed broke in two at thirteenth round). In upper battery: 16 24-pounders (of the 16, 2 were disabled--1 broken in two by a shot, and one platform undermined). In lower battery: 9 32-pounders; 6 42-pounders; 1 7-inch rifle (burst by shell exploding in bore); 1 8-inch Columbiad (dismounted); 4 24-pounders. In north-east battery (field-work): 4 10-inch sea-coast mortars. On parade: 1 6-pounder; 12-pounder; 1 24-pounder field howitzer. Total, 52 guns.

Chalmette and McGehee lines. Brig.-Gen. Martin L. Smith. Subordinate Commanders: Brig.-Gen. Benjamin Buisson, Lieut.-Col. William E. Pinkney, Capt. Patton, Lieut-Butler, et al.

General Lovell reports that the city of New Orleans “was only garrisoned by about 3000 ninety-day troops.” The strength of the garrisons of the two forts is stated by Col. Higgins, in his testimony before the Court of Inquiry, as 1100 men. The loss at Forts Jackson and St. Philip was 11 killed and 39 wounded; and at the upper batteries 1 killed and 1 wounded. At Fort Jackson 121 officers and men were surrendered; number at other points not fully reported.

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Relative strength of the opposing forces.

in a letter to the Editors, Professor J. R. Soley, U. S. N. says:

In discussing the question of the relative force of the two sides (see p. 33), it should be borne in mind that of the Confederate total of 166 guns, 117 were 32-pounders or smaller; while out of the Union total of 302 guns, only 114 were 32-pounders and smaller. In other words, 70 per cent. of the Confederate batteries were 32-pounders or below, while only 37 per cent. of the Union batteries were 32-pounders or below. This difference in the caliber of the guns goes a great way to offset the advantage of fort guns over ship guns, where the ships are trying to reduce the forts. But in this case it was not a question of reducing the forts, but of running by the forts. In such an action the advantage of guns in forts over guns on shipboard may be regarded as very much reduced; indeed, if the passage is open, so that the ships are not kept under fire for a long time (as later at Port Hudson) by natural or artificial obstructions, and especially if made at night, it may be said to be zero.

On the other hand, the value of the Confederate fleet, at New Orleans, made up as it was chiefly of fast tow-boats, with elated bows, cannot be estimated alone in guns. It was essentially a ram fleet, and, if it had been handled efficiently, might have thrown Farragut's advance into confusion. As Commander Bartlett suggests also, the fire-rafts, with attendant tugs, might have been put to formidable use. This was shown in the case of the Hartford. Doubtless the Confederate flotilla, however efficiently handled, would have had hard work to check such an impetuous onset as that of Farragut.

Out of a nominal total of 14 vessels (9 of them rains and 2 of them iron-clad) and 40 guns, Commander Mitchell had practically only 4 vessels and 12 guns — the: McRae, Manassas, Governor Moore, and perhaps the Stonewall Jackson. For this Mitchell was in no way responsible. It was due to the delays in completing the Louisiana, to the absurd organization of the River Defense Fleet, to the want of seamen, and to the bungling of the civil administration at Richmond. The materials of Mitchell's force, if they had been completed and properly officered and manned, would have made a very pretty force for the purpose; but no commander taking hold of them four days before the fight could have made much out of them.

Editors.